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From: SHIREEN HELPS
_: 5
Date: 26-08-10
Time: 12:12
Dear All Shireen and Francis Helps are farmers and the sole residents of Pohatu/Flea Bay, the tiny (215ha) marine reserve on the outer coast of Banks Peninsula. They are passionate environmentalists, trappers, kayakers and run a business called Pohatu Tours incorporating penguin watching among other things. Shireen has written the following email concerning her wider concerns about the changes she is observing in the marine environment. As we all are working together we would appreciate any comments from our N.I. colleagues.
I guess we feel a little isolated down here with such a dearth of marine reserves!
We will all be talking to each more soon about how to whack the politicians at the Bluegreens' conference.
Cheers Kathleen
From: tours@pohatu.co.nz [mailto:tours@pohatu.co.nz] Sent: Thursday, 26 August 2010 8:10 a.m. To: Brian and Kathleen Reid "Hi, I guess you are aware of the issue of the Hectors Dolphins starving to death because of the over fishing of cod. It is very noticeable the dolphins spend less time in Pohatu and the reason for any drop in fish numbers here may be to do with the Pied shags here decimating fish stocks. I have been quite horrified with what they are taking, so it may not be just human activity as a factor. The fact is however that the Hectors Dolphin really did need that marine reserve in Akaroa harbour to keep them there and the loss of the reserve is very likely to affect the operators there worst. Any further marine reserve needs to take the Dolphins in particular into account. What they need is a very large area of good cod grounds protected. I was wondering if we could get the dolphin issue in the papers and attack the ministers and oppositions decision using the plight of this endearing and endangered species we might have less opposition next time if we put forward another proposal. Hopefully a little guilt may take some smiles off faces and take some sting out of their arguments. Maybe another proposal should be extending Pohatu's boundaries out to cover what used to be cod grounds out off Pohatu right out to Flea Bay Rocks. This area would be huge as the Flea Bay Rocks are 15 km out and would cover what used to be amazing cod grounds. Trawlers used to thump their way across the entrance of the bay constantly until they fished it out and probably destroyed what the cod were feeding on. The Pied shag issue here at Pohatu is an issue for improvements of fish stocks within Pohatu. Any scientific research into improvements in fish stock in Pohatu and any criticisms of the success of the reserve pied shag populations and what they take need to be taken into account because they are definitely a factor here feeding mainly inside the bay and killing fish far too big to swallow. I think of them as the clowns of the bay. It is often really funny to watch if not a little alarming. Shireen Helps
Last changed: 23-Jul-2011